PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Absorbing Light Energy to make chemical energy:
glucose!
• Stored as carbohydrate in plants.
• 6CO2 + 12H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
• Equation in simplified into:
• 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight  C6H12O6 + 6O2
EQUATION FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
WATER
6CO2 + 6H2O + ENERGY
CARBON
DIOXIDE
OXYGEN
C6H12O6 + 6O2
GLUCOSE
QQ#1: Why is Photosynthesis
important?
Photosynthesis begins all food
chains/webs. Thus all life is supported
by this process.
It also makes oxygen gas!!
Photo-synthesis
means "putting together with light."
Plants use sunlight to turn water
and carbon dioxide into glucose, a
type of sugar.
Plants use glucose as food for
energy and as a building block for
growing.
Autotrophs are the producers of
glucose and heterotrophs are
consumers of it.
Photosynthesis
sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water
absorbed by chlorophyll
glucose + oxygen
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy  C6H12O6 + 6O2
As can be seen from the equation for photosynthesis, the
wood, bark, and root came from water and carbon
dioxide.
Plants in Action
QQ#2
What is the
process
that uses
the sun’s
energy to
make
simple
sugars?
Leaves are green
because they
contain
the pigment:
Plants
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll absorbs
sunlight
Leaves have a
large surface area
to absorb as much
light as possible
"Thanks for the Glucose!"
The photograph below is an elodea leaf X 400.
Individual cells are clearly visible. The tiny
green structures within the cells are
chloroplasts
this is where
photosynthesis happens.
A typical plant cell
contains about
10 to 100
chloroplasts
Chloroplasts make the sugars!
Chloroplasts
make the
oxygen too!
Photosynthesis occurs in two steps
• Light dependent reaction
• Creates oxygen as a waste product
• Light independent reactions
• Creates sugar
• Both happen within the chloroplast in the
cell
Stoma
This opening is how plants exchange gases!
QQ#3: Can you name the two important gases
that go in and out of the leaves?
QQ#4: Why is
this important
for the
environment
and humans?
QQ#5
1. The process that uses the sun’s energy to
make simple sugars is _____________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Cellular respiration
Glycolysis
Photosynthesis
Photolysis
QQ#6
2. The function accomplished by the lightdependent reactions is ______________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Energy storage
Sugar production
Carbon fixation
Conversion of sugar